Mock drill firing: Guj ATS officer alleges negligence

An inspector associated with Gujarat's Anti-Terrorist Squad, who was shot during a mock drill at Surat city airport last month, has termed the incident as negligence on part of the senior officer who shot at him.

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PTI

Ahmedabad

March 14, 2010

UPDATED: March 14, 2010 21:58 IST

An inspector associated with Gujarat's Anti-Terrorist Squad, who was shot during a mock drill at Surat city airport last month, has termed the incident as negligence on part of the senior officer who shot at him.

Shabbir Ali Sayyed was shot on February 24 by Surat deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Subhash Trivedi during a mock drill conducted to check preparedness of police officials in case of terror attack.

However, state ATS chief Ajay Tomar, who is conducting the inquiry into the incident, maintained that it was an accident and not an intentional attempt to shoot the inspector.

According to the sources in Surat police, Sayyed in his statement about the incident has said that he was playing role of an observer during the mock drill, while Trivedi played a doctor who was to provide medical support to the 'hostages' inside a bus.

Sayyed has said that before the drill began all the officials were specifically instructed to empty their weapons as no live ammunitions were to be used in the exercise.

He further said that how the bullets remained in DCP Trivedi's revolver was a matter of investigation, terming the incident as negligence on part of the senior officer.

Describing what happened during the anti-terror mock drill, Sayyed has said in his statement that while he was standing as an observer near the bus, Trivedi came and grabbed him and cried out that terrorist has been caught.

At that time, Sayyed reminded Trivedi that he was playing the role of an observer and not a terrorist, but the DCP did not listen and shot him in the abdomen from close range.

Tomar when asked if the incident was intentional firing as reported in some newspapers or an accident, he said, "All I can say is that we have not found the incident to be intentional."

He refused to divulge more information saying that the matter was under investigation.

Last week Minister of State for Home Amit Shah told Gujarat Assembly that the incident was an accident and an inquiry was on in the matter.

Sayyed was discharged from a hospital in Surat over two week after he was shot and is now taking rest as advised by doctors.

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